Marilyn Monroe Naked Photos

Trending News: Rare Nude Photos Of Marilyn Monroe Before Her Rise To Fame

Why Is This Important?

Because Marilyn Monroe is a Hollywood and pop culture icon.

Long Story Short

Rare photos of Marilyn Monroe show her posing nude before her stratospheric rise to fame.

Long Story

In 2015, we are very familiar with the concept of the nude celebrity. We have Victoria’s Secret, Kim Kardashian’s Instagram account, Miley Cyrus and... Harvey Keitel. But back in Marilyn Monroe’s day, getting your kit off for the camera was deeply frowned upon. Imagine!

When Marilyn Monroe posed nude for photographer Tom Kelley in 1949, she was a 22-year old struggling actress and was paid just $50 for the job. The photos were used in the now-famous Golden Dreams calendar, with Monroe signing their release with the pseudonym “Mona Monroe.”

Later in 1952, as Monroe gained fame and recognition, her nude photos resurfaced and her studio bosses asked her to deny that they were of her. But, in typically unpredictable fashion, Monroe admitted the truth to the press, risking her career in the process.

Limited Runs

Luckily the public were sympathetic to her situation and, as we have come to expect from certain celebrity slip ups and leaks, the photos Monroe was so ashamed of actually helped propel her to fame.

As you can see, photographers back in the day had their own tricks for altering images without using Photoshop. Lesser known versions of the famous nude include color plates and clothed versions, for people who couldn't handle full-on nudity. Imagine!